Paper-fastener.



IIWIN RITTENHOUSE, or WASHINGTON, nrs'rare'r or COLUMBIA.

PAPER-.FASTENER.

Application filed April 1, 1913, Serial No. 758,283.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRVIN RITTENHOUSE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference toimprovements in paper fasteners, and more particularly to a type of paper fastener that may be properly designated as fiat file fasteners.

This invention has for its object to provide a fastener for securing together a plurality of papers for the purpose of filing, such a fastener being particularly adapted for use in flat or vertical filing systems. The advantages of flat file fasteners of this type are fully set forth in my Patent No. 920,393.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a base member having a detachable fastening pin inserted therein; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the base member; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a fastening pin detached from the base member; F ig. 4 is a top plan view of the protecting plate; Fig. 5 is a plan View of the protecting plate from the under side; Fig. 6 is a sectional View showing the operation of the complete fastener.

As indicated in the drawing, 1 represents the base member which has a depressed cen tral portion 2. The end portions connecting the depressed central portion and the main body of the base member are provided with apertures 3 for the easy insertion of the detachable fastening pin 4, the ends of which are bent at right angles over the ends of the base member to form upstanding prongs as shown in Fig. 6.

The protecting plate 5 which is of a length slightly greater than the base member has a crimped central portion 6 corresponding-in some degree to the depressed body portion 2 of the base member. This crimped central portion is of a length substantially identical to the length of the base member and is provided at its opposite terminals with aper- Specification of Letters Patent.

' the base member,

Patented May 16, 1916. Renewed September 25, 1915. Serial No. 52,704.

tures 7, 7, for the reception of the upstanding prongs of the detachable fastening pin 4. The outer edge of the protecting plate has a slight downward slope as shown at 8 which forms a guide for the pin fasteners when they are bent outwardly and down wardly to engage the paper, as will be hereinafter described. It will be noted that by providing the depressed central portion 6 in the protecting plate, an offset is formed at the inner edge of each of the apertures 7 whereby the upstanding prongs of the fastening pin are readily guided into the said apertures.

The operation of the device is as follows :The detachable fastening pin 4 is first inserted into the base member 1 by passing it through the apertures 3 and along the depressed central portion 2. The ends of the fastening pin are then bent upwardly as shown in Fig. 6 and the papers to be secured are slipped over the bent up ends. When the last sheet has been placed in its proper position on the up-turned ends, the said ends are passed through the apertures 7, 7, in the protecting plate and bent downwardly over the sloping portions 8 of the protecting plate. It will be noted that by providing the central depressed portion 2 in a guide is formed which will enable the operator to readily insert the fastening pin 4 into the apertures 3. It will also be observed that the central depressed portion of the base member will have the effect of stifiening the same transversely so as to prevent a transverse bending of the fastener. A like eflect will be noted as a result of the provision of the longitudinal stifiening rib in the protecting plate.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base member, a fastening pin associated therewith, a protecting plate having its sides and ends terminating in sloping portions connected to each other, the sloping portions of the ends of the plates having apertures formedtherein and located at the upper ends of said portions, the ends of said fastening pin being passed through the apertures and bent flush against In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my F the sloping portions of the ends. hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 2. A Washer consisting of a plate having nesses. sloping side and end portions integrally eon- IRVIN RITTENHOUSE. 5 neoted, the sloping end portions having 1 Witnesses:

apertures formed in their 'upper ends and EDWARD S. WHITE, located adjacent the ends of said plate. W. E. HUDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained ionfive cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patente, Washington, D. O. 

